EXEMPTION: | 1. You do not need to safeguard the following types of belts when they are operating at two hundred and fifty linear feet per minute or less: |
a. Flat belts that are: | |
i. One inch wide or less. | |
ii. Two inches wide or less and have no metal lacings or fasteners. | |
b. Round belts one-half inch or less in diameter. | |
c. Single-strand v-belts 13/32 inch wide or less. | |
2. You do not need to safeguard belts that are in a room, vault, or similar space that contains only power transmission parts or equipment if the space: | |
a. Is controlled by lock and key or has similarly restricted access that allows only authorized persons to enter. | |
b. Is well lit. | |
c. Has a dry, level, and firm floor. | |
d. Has a well-marked route with a vertical clearance of at least five feet six inches for authorized employees to follow to perform their duties. | |
3. You do not need to safeguard belt drives of light or medium duty sewing machines if all of the following apply: | |
a. It uses either a flat or a round belt without metal lacings and fasteners. | |
b. The belt is located above the table top. | |
c. The table top is designed so that employees near the machine are not exposed to motion hazards while they work or as they pass by. | |
d. The machine is not used to sew heavy materials such as leather, canvas, denim, or vinyl. | |
e. The operators' hands are not in, near, or on the wheel, nip point, belt area, or other motion hazard when the machine is operating. |
Reference: | You may need to follow additional requirements for sewing machines. See, Sewing machines, WAC 296-806-485, later in this chapter for more information. |
Reference: | In the absence of a specific safeguarding method, follow the safeguarding requirements found in safeguarding methods, WAC 296-806-20042 through 296-806-20058. Examples of safeguarding methods include: |
1. Guards. | |
2. Devices. | |
3. Safeguarding by distance. | |
4. Safeguarding by location. |
Note: | You may use a nip point and pulley guard on a vertical or inclined belt if it meets all of the following requirements: |
1. Two and one-half inches wide or less. | |
2. Running at a speed of less than one thousand feet per minute. | |
3. Free from metal lacings or fastenings. |
Note: | The passage between the two belts is considered safeguarded if you completely block it with a guardrail or other barrier. |
EXEMPTION: | In a power generating room, only the lower run of a horizontal belt has to be safeguarded. |